Housing director previews new city committee, social housing study and ‘one housing plan,’ flags $90M budget gap

The Portland Housing Bureau director told the oversight committee the city has shifted housing items to a new homelessness and housing committee at City Council and previewed several citywide initiatives: a one-year study on social housing, an emerging “one housing plan” to consolidate existing housing strategies, and ongoing negotiations over a reported more-than-$90 million citywide budget gap.

The director said the homelessness and housing committee meets twice monthly under Chair Councilor Candace Avalos and Vice Chair Councilor Jamie Dunphy, and includes council members Angelita Murillo, Dan Ryan and Eric Zimmerman so that "the entire city is represented on the committee." The North Northeast housing strategy and the bureau’s preference policy presentation are scheduled for the homelessness and housing committee on June 24, the director said, and bureau staff encouraged committee members and the public to attend.

The director…